Refrigerator



Jan. '3, 1925; 1,522,894

' a c. w. M coY REFRIGERATOR Filed March 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan.l3,1925'.

C. W. M COY REFRIGERATOR Filed March 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet llllllnl 6 oflVashington,

Patented Jan. 13, 1925.

err EH CHARLES W. IMCCOY, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO A. B. C.REFRIGERA- TOR 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA.

REFRIGERATOR.

Application filed March 25, 1918. Serial no. 224,413. 1

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES XV. MOCOY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Refrigerators, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to refrigerators and has for its object toprovide a new and improved'device of this description. The inventionhas, among other objects, to provide a refrigerator for use in houses,stores, restaurantsand the like, wherein a liquid refrigerant is usedfor cooling purposes, and this refrigerant is circulated through thecompartment to be cooled without the use of a pump or motor. Theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings where in- Figure 1is a front elevation of a refrigerator in part section embodying theinvention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation in part section of the refrigerator shownin Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the receptaclescontaining the re frigerant material;

Figure 4 is aview of one form of actuating device for moving thereceptacles con taining the refrigerant.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged View showing the rocking connection between thereceptacles containing the refrigerant and the support therefor.

Like numerals refer to out the several figures.

For purposes of illustration I have shown my invention as applied to anordinary refrigerator or ice box. In this construction there is astationary boX or casing 1 containing a compartment 2 in which ismovably mounted a plurality of receptacles containing a refrigerant; Inthe construction shown there are four receptacles, 3, t, 5 and 6. Thesereceptacles may be located in any desired manner, but as shown areadjacent to each other and are separated by walls 7, 8, 9 and 10. Thereceptacles are preferably arranged in two pairs, 3 and 6 forming onepair, and 4 and 5 another pair, The receplike parts throughtacles-3 and6 are arranged so that the liquid refrigerant may pass in one directionfrom one to the other, but cannot return through the same opening. Forthis purpose I provide one or more valves 12 which may be of any formsuch as an ordinary check valve controlling one or more openings, thevalves being arranged so that liquid can pass through the openings fromreceptacle 6 to receptacle 3 but cannot return. There are one or morecommunications between receptacles I and 5 which are controlled bysimilar valves 13 arranged to work in the opposite direction, that is,to permit liquid to pass from receptacle 4 to receptacle 5 but preventsuch liquid from returning to receptacle 4. Receptacles 3 and 4 areconnected by a pipe 1 1 and receptacles 5 and 6 are connected by a pipe15. The receptacles are movably mounted in the casing or box so thatthey may be moved or rocked as herein shown. The receptacles are mountedupon pivots 16 carried by supports 1?. Either the pivots or supportsma-ybe connected with the receptacle or the stationary compartment.

ment is provided with a suitable removable cover and the receptacles mayalso be provided with removable covers so that the refrigerant may beeasily inserted or removed. The pipes 14 and 15 extend below thereceptacles and into one or more compartments 18 and 19 to be cooled.The openings in the partition '21 are arranged to permit the necessarymovement of the pipes when the re ceptacles are rocked. is placed in thereceptacles and any desired refrigerant may be used such as, forexample, cold brine. The device, for example, can be used cheaply andefliciently by put ting ice and brine in the receptacles or ice and saltto form brine. Some means is provided for moving the receptacles. Asillustrated, I provide an actuating device con nected with thereceptacles and means for applying power to said actuating device torock the receptacles. One convenient construction is shown whichconsists of a shaft 22 provided with a crank 23. This crank is connectedby aconnecting device at with the receptacles at any desired point, as,;for example, at about the middle of the end at 25.

The stationary compart- A suitable refrigerant This connecting devicepasses through an opening 24 in the casing or box. Power may be appliedto shaft 22 and its connections in any desired manner. An efficientmethod is to place the shaft outside of the compartment and provide anarrangement so that when the-door is open the shaft will be rotated torock the receptacles. I have shown one form for doing this. In thisconstruction the doors 26 are provided with suitable hinges and eachdoor has a curved rack 27. illustrated in detail in Figures 4 and 5.This rack is struck from the center about which the door moves. Thexrack27 connects with a pinion 28 on the shaft 22. When there are severaldoors some means is provided so that when one door is opened the pinionsassociated with the racks of the other doors will not prevent therotation of the shaft 22. This may be done, for example, by leaving theends 29 of the .racks 27 free from teeth so that when the'doors areclosed the pinions will not engage the racks. By omitting the teeth fromthe ends of the-racks the pinions are disengaged from the racks when thedoors are shut. and. this permits the receptacles to adjust themselvesand come to a levelcafter the doors have been opened. and closed. Oneconstruction for securing this result is illustrated in Figure 4 wherethe pinion 28 engages the stop 30 on the shaft 22. A spring 31' iscompressed between the pinion andthe stop32 so as to secure a frictionalengagement. IVhen the door is opened this frictional engagement issufiicient to permit the engagement between the rack 27- and the pinion28 to rock the shaft. If any pinion, however, is engaged by the'rack ofa doorthat is not being moved, the pinion will be held still but theshaftwill rotate in the pinion. Any other means for applying power tothe shaft 22 may be used. Similar racks 27 and pinions 28 and shafts 22and associated parts may be used with the other doors 33 and 34,.

I have described in detail a particular construction embodying theinvention, but it is of course evident that the parts may be varied inmany particulars without depart- The liquid refrigerant of whatevernature used, passes into the pipes 14' and l5 which extend throughthechamber or compartment tobe cooled. I

The liquid refrigerant is circulated through'these pipes without the useof a mg from the spirit of the invention hereto attached and I thereforedo not limit myself receptacle 4 to receptacle 5 but cannot'flow fromreceptacle 3 to receptacle 6. This will cause the liquid toriseat ahigher level in I receptacle 5 than in receptacle 6 and. the

liquid will then flow through pipe 15 from receptacle 5 to receptacle 6.If,.now., the

receptacles are rocked in the oppositedirection, the level ofthe liquidinreceptacles 5 and 6 will be. higher. liquid in receptacles 3 flow fromreceptacle 6 to receptacle?) but will not flow fromreceptacle 5 toreceptacle than the level of the and 4 andliquid win 4. This raises thelevel of the liquid in the receptacle 3 above that in receptacle 4 andhence the liquid flows by gravity through pipe 14from receptacle -3 toreceptacle 4. As the receptacles are rocked it will beseen that thisoperation is repeated and that the receptacles and pipes provide acomplete cir culatory system. lVhen power is applied to the shaft 22 bythe'doors,

this rocking and,

circulation will occur every time the door is opened and closed. Inviewof the fact that the pipes 14 andyloextend below the rece tacles and;into the compartment to cooled, it will be seen that while the door areclosed there will stillbe a circulation,

because as the refrigerant material absorbs v heat from the compartmentto be cooled, a

portion thereof willrise in the upwardly extending portions of pipesv 14and 15 and the heavier cooler liquid will fall, thus pro ducing acirculation which keeps the compartment at the proper temperature. I

lated as herein shown, this circulation becomes exceedingly effectivebecause this-ina sulation' prevents the heat fr0m"being pipes absorbsheatfrom the compartment to be cooled the heavier materialsinksintothemand the lighter heated material goes back to the receptacles andis recooled.

i By'having the receptacles 3, 4, 5,"a'nd"5 containing the refrigerantmaterial msu These downwardly extending pipes exten'df through thecompartment to be cooled -so to affect the temperature therein.

It will be noted that the receptacles or tanks for the temperaturevarying material have substantially horizontal and substan tiallyvertical'wal ls and that the pipes14' each has a substantiallyhorizontalportion in "a different horizontal plane from the tanks and twosubstantially vertical end portions which communicate with the tanksthrough the substantially horizontal walls, the substantially horizontalportions of the pipes passing through the receptacle or chamber to becooled',and that these pipes have a siphonic action in transferring theliquid from one tank to another when the levels of the liquid in thetanks are different so as to tend to equalize said levels. It willfurther be noted that there is means for positively delivering thetemperature varying liquid from one tank to another, this beingaccomplished by the movement of the tank by the motive power whichdrives the shaft 22 as for example when the door is opened or closed.This positive delivery or movement of the liquid from one tank toanother raises the level of the liquid in one tank and lowers it in theother and the pipes 14 act as siphons to return the liquid by siphonicaction to the tank having the lower level so as to tend to reestablish acommon level in both tanks.

I claim:

1. A refrigerator comprising a compartment, a plurality of receptaclesmovably mounted in said compartment and containing refrigerant material,means for connecting said receptacles, said receptacles and said meansfor connecting them forming a complete circulatory apparatus containingthe refrigerant to be circulated, an actuating device connected withsaid receptacles, and means for applying power to said actuating deviceto rock said receptacles.

2. A refrigerator comprising a compartment, a plurality of receptaclesmovably mounted in said compartment and containing refrigerant material,means for connecting said receptacles, said receptacles and said meansfor connecting them forming a complete circulatory apparatus containingthe refrigerant to be circulated, an actuating device connected withsaid receptacles, and means outside of said stationary compartment forapplying power to said actuating device to rock said receptacles.

3. A refrigerator comprising a compartment, a plurality of receptaclesmovably mounted in said compartment and containing refrigerant material,means for connecting said receptacles, said receptacles and said meansfor connecting them forming a complete circulatory apparatus containingthe refrigerant to be circulated, an actuating device connected withsaid receptacles, and a door for said stationary compartment by means ofwhich access is secured thereto, and a connection between said door andsaid actuating device whereby when the door is open power is applied tosaid actuating device to rock said rece'ptacles.

4-."A refrigerator comprising a compartment, four receptacles in saidcompartment adapted-to receive refrigerant material, said receptaclesmovably mounted therein, the receptacles forming two pairs, valves forcontrolling the communication between the receptacles of each of saidpairs, said valves permitting the refrigerant to flow in one directionbut stop its flow in the other direction, and pipes connecting thereceptacles of one of said pairs with the receptacles of the other pair,an actuating device connected with said receptacles and means forapplying power to said actuating device to rock said receptacles.

5. A refrigerator comprising a compartment, four receptacles in saidcompartment adapted to receive refrigerant material, said receptaclesmovably mounted therein, the receptacles forming two pairs, valves forcontrolling the communication between the receptacles of each of saidpairs. said valves permitting the refrigerant to flow in one directionbut stop its flow in the other direction, and pipes connecting thereceptacles of one of said pairs with the receptacles of the other pair,an actuating device connected with said receptacles, and a door for saidcompartment by means of which access is secured thereto, and aconnection between said door and said actuating device whereby power isapplied to the actuating device to rock said receptacles when the dooris moved.

6. A refrigerator comprising a compartment, four receptacles in saidcompartment all of said receptacles being substantially in the samehorizontal plane adapted to receive refrigerant material. a compartmentto be cooled, said receptacles having two pairs of valves forcontrolling the communication between the receptacles of each of saidpairs, said valves permitting the refrigerant to flow in one directionbut stop its flow in the other direction, a compartment to be cooled,pipes connecting the receptacles of one of said pairs with thereceptacles of the other pair, said pipes extending downwardly throughthe compartment to be cooled and back up to the receptacles.

7 A temperature varying apparatus comprising a compartment, a door forsaid compartment, receptacles adapted to contain temperature varyingliquid in said compartment, a connection between said receptacles andmeans actuated by the door of the compartment for causing liquid to betransferred from one receptacle to the other.

8. A temperature varying device comprising two receptacles adapted tocontain temperature varying material, means for positively deliveringtemperature varying 1naterial-int0 one of said receptacles and a Intestimonvwhereof; I aflixfny signa-.

return pipe communicating With the inteture in the presence of twoWitnesses this 10 rior of both receptacles below'the liquid nineteenthday of March 1918.

level therein, said return pipe having a portion thereof in a differentplane horizontally CHARLES WV. MCCOY.

' from said receptacles whereby said material lVitnesses:

is moved from the first mentioned receptacle MINNIE M. LINDENAU, to theother by sipho'nic action. CHRISTINA DEAYS.

